Diving projector



March 12, 1940.

E. F. HOPPES DIVING PROJECTOR Filed March 14, 1958 2 Sheets-.Sheet 1 ,liI I I'I'I'I'Jiii Hlllll/ |111. .l nl

A 'l i Il Wl E. F. HoPPEs DIVING PROJECTOR Filed Maron 14, 195s Marchl2, 1940.

2 snets-sneet 2 .FIB 8 Patented Mar. 12, 1940 pinten y eter rieApplication March 14, 1938, Serial No. 195,713 v `7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a diving projector of the typewhich is generally known as a spring board; the invention relating umore particularly to a projector of this character which is constructedprincipally of metal.

The object of the invention is to provide a diving .projector which willbe of simple and sturdy construction and economical in manufac-` ture.

lo In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan View of a diving projector embodying myimprovements, the upper portion of the platform being partly brokenaway.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same parts l5 broken away. Fig. 3 isa side elevation of the same.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail in top plan of the` Fig. l0 is a sideelevation of portions of two mating batten members.

Referring to the drawings, I represents a series of longitudinallyextending spaced apart flat spring metal bars forming a spring base,these bars in the present case being equally spaced. While the bars inthepresent case are shown in parallel relation and as equally spaced,they need not be necessarily so arranged. The upper edge of each ofthese bars has placed thereon a U- shaped bead 2 which is preferablymade of rubber and fabric. The at barsare so arranged in the structurethat their edges will be at the top, and bottom and their nat facespresented toward each other as shown best in Fig. '7. In other words,the height of the bars when installed is considerably greater thantheirwidth. This provides for a stronger and more resilient structure. Thebars I are connected at intervals by battens, preferably cast metal,each of these battens being formed of two mating members 3 and 4 whichare connected together by a series of bolts 5, the batten members beingrecessed as shown at to receive the heads and nuts of the bolts. Themating batten members are also provided with mating longitudinalgroovesy 6 to receive the spring bars. As shown best in Figs. 6, 8 andl0, the combined depths of the mating grooves are less than the width ofthe spring bars so as to permit the mating members of the battens to bedrawn tightly against the spring bars and clamp them in position.` Theresilient beads 2 are in sections, with one section arranged betweenadjacent battens; in other words, the beads do not 5; extend through thebattens, as shown in the figures. p

At the approach end of the apparatus the two outer springbars I areextended as shown at I' and these extensions carry a long supportingrodl0 l, each. end of which is reduced as shown at l' in Fig. 8,' thereduced portions extending through the extensions I and being threadedto receive Y nuts il to hold the rod in position on the extensions. Thisrod is for the purpose of carrying a roller 9 which is journalleduponthe rod and which will be later referred to. The construction as thusfar described is covered by a flexible covering I0 of any suitable ma-lterial. A material which has been found satisfactory for this coveringis fabric-faced rubber. This covering forms a platform for'the divers towalk upon from the approach end to the diving end of the apparatus. Thecovering is securely fastened at the diving end of the apparatus by fiatheaded bolts I I, two on each side of the covering, which pass throughflat straps I2, a pair of which islocated on the upper edges of thespring bars and another pair I3 of which is located on the lower side ofthe spring bars, the bolts Il 30 passing through these strapsandreceiving nuts M whereby the straps may be clamped rmly to the springbars and thence firmly secure the covering in position at'the diving endof the apparatus. f

At the approach end of the apparatus there is `connected to the coveringI0 in any suitable Way a pair of belts I 5 of any suitable flexiblematerial, these belts I5 passing aboutthe roller 9 and being eachconnected by aplurality of coil springs 40 t6 with the ends of thespring bars I li These springs serve to keep the covering or platformI!) taut but permit it to yield `,when the bars I flex during diving. Atan intermediate point of the apparatus there is provided a fulcrum II 45of any suitable form such as a tube which is carried by any suitablesupports (not shown) and at lthe approach end ofy the apparatus thesteel bars are connected to a tubular member I8 by bolts I9 and thistubular member is carried by any suit- 50 able supports (not shown).

` r)The extreme approach end is preferably covered by a cover consistingof a top 20, sides 2I and a back 22. The top 2U standssubstantally flushwith the covering or platform II). The sides of this cover have opennotches 23 which are passed over the reduced ends l' of the rod l so asto be clamped by the nuts 8 against the extensions I. Each of the sidesalso has an open recess 24 which drops over the tubular member I8.

`Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a diving projector, a spring metal longitudinally-disposed base,an intermediate fulcrum for said base, means to secure one end of saidbase leaving the other end free, a llexible cover for said base, aroller adjacent one end of said base, flexible devices secured to saidbase and passing about said roller for attachment to said lexible cover,and coil springs connecting said devices to said base.

2. In a diving projector, a series vof ilat spring bars, said barshaving space therebetween and arranged with their flat faces presentedtoward each other, attaching means for said bars at the approach end of,said projector, an intermediate ulcrurn for said bars, and a flexiblecovering for said bars forming a platform for divers.

, 3. In a diving projector, a series of spring bars, attaching means forsaid bars at the approach end of said projector, an intermediate fulcrumfor said bars, a flexible covering for said bars forming a platform fordivers, a roller at one end v.of 'said projector, flexible devicesconnected with said platform passing about said roller and connected tosaid flexible covering, springs for connecting said devices with saidbars, and means for connecting the other end of said platform l Withsaid bars.

4. In a diving projector, a series of spring bars,

attaching means for said bars at the approach end of said projector, anintermediate fulcrum for said bars, beads for the upper edges of, saidbars, and a flexible covering for said bars forming a platform fordivers.

l 5. In a .diving projector, a series of spring bars, battens connectingsaid bars at intervals, attaching means for said bars at the approachend of said projector, an intermediate fulcrum for said bars and aflexible covering for said bars forming a platform for divers. I`

6. In a diving projector, a series of spring bars, battens connectingsaid bars at intervals, attaching means for said bars at the approachend of said projector, an intermediate fulcrum for said bars, and aflexible covering for said 'oars forming a platform for divers, each of,said battens consisting of a pair of connected mating members slotted toreceive said bars.

'7. In a diving projector, a spring metal longitudinally-extending baseconsisting of a series of ilat spring metal bars having spacetherebetween which when installed have their edges at the top and bottomand their ilat faces presented toward each other, means for connectingsaid bars at the diving end of said projector, attaching means for saidbars at the approach end of said projector, an intermediate fulcrum forsaid bars, and a covering for said bars forming a plat- 30 form fordivers.

EDWIN F. HOPPES.

